Figure 3. Abnormal accumulation of mtROS participates in ox-LDL-induced VSMC-derived foam cell necroptosis. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were treated for 72 h with 5 µg/mL cyclodextrin-cholesterol complex to establish VSMCs, which were then subjected to DMSO, Tempol, and ox-LDL(10 μg/ mL) treatment for 24 h. (a) mtROS levels were measured using a MitoSOX™ Red mitochondrial superoxide indicator. (b) A JC-1 staining kit was used to measure mitochondrial membrane potential. (c) The proportion of PI-positive cells was quantitatively determined using flow cytometry. Data are presented as mean ± SD of three independent experiments. **p < 0.01 vs. the control group; ##p < 0.01 vs. the 10 μg/mL ox-LDL group.